NASHVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 10 -- Country music star Faron Young died Tuesday after he was found at his home, the apparent victim of a self- inflicted gunshot wound. Young, 64, was rushed to Summit Medical Center in Nashville where he was treated in the intensive care unit for his injuries. He died at 1:07 p.m. CST. Investigators said the gunshot wound appeared to have been self- inflicted and they reported finding a suicide note inside Young's home that indicated the musician had been depressed because he suffered from two lingering illnesses -- cancer and emphysema. Long time friend, and former band member, Ray Emmitt, found Young lying by his bed, apparently only moments after he shot himself Monday, police said. According to Emmitt, Young felt unappreciated by the country music industry and that was compounded by a bout with prostate problems and emphysema. The emphysema made it hard for Young to breathe, affecting his singing, added Emmitt. Once a frequent guest on the Grand Ole Opry and on TNN's former talk show, 'Nashville Now,' Young had quietly slipped from the country music scene about five years ago, complaining about the money paid to new talent and the way the industry treated its older stars. Bob Whittaker, general manager, and president of the Grand Ole Opry said, 'You can't love country music, and not appreciate Faron Young's contributions.' Booking agent and friend Jim Case choked back tears and said, 'It made me sad to see him quit (the business) but, legends like him just don't get any attention.'
'He just got tired of the music business as it was. He just stayed home and didn't do much of anything,' Case added. Young hit the Billboard country music charts in 1953 with the song 'Going Steady,' and eventually earned 41 top 40 hits, 5 of them rocketing to No. 1. His biggest hits include 'Hello Walls' penned by the famous Willie Nelson, 'It's Four In The Morning,' and the title most closely reflecting his own life, 'Live Fast, Love Hard, And Die Young.' Young had a reputation for being one of country music's most colorful characters. He was hospitalized once after being hit in the head with a cue ball during a bar room confrontation. The argument stemmed from who had the most money, the other bar patron, or himself. His past also included an admission, under oath, to shooting the ceiling in his house, and once was charged with beating his girlfriend and another time accused of pulling another woman out of a car by her hair. But he also was known for giving money to struggling songwriters, and to strangers in need of a hand. Young was divorced from Hilda Young, and had four children, Robin, Alana, Damion, and Kevin. He had been living alone in recent years.
